(Washington, D.C.) – Google has strongly opposed a reported proposal from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to force the company to sell its popular web browser, Chrome. The company argues that such a move would harm both consumers and businesses, and undermine American technological leadership at a critical moment.
The DOJ’s proposal is expected to be presented to Judge Amit Mehta as part of an ongoing antitrust case. In August, Judge Mehta ruled that Google operates an online search monopoly, and remedies or penalties are currently under consideration. The DOJ has not publicly commented on the proposal, but Google has issued a statement denouncing the idea.
Lee-Anne Mulholland, a Google executive, described the DOJ’s approach as “radical,” asserting that it goes beyond the legal issues in the case. She added that the proposed measures would disrupt technological innovation and competition.
Chrome is the world’s leading web browser, holding a dominant 64.61% global market share as of October, according to web analytics firm Similarweb. Google’s search engine, integrated into Chrome and other platforms, commands nearly 90% of the global search market, according to Statcounter.
Judge Mehta noted in his August ruling that Google’s status as the default search engine across multiple devices, including Chrome and Safari on iPhones, grants it a significant competitive edge. He referred to this default positioning as “extremely valuable real estate,” emphasizing the financial barriers that prevent competitors from challenging Google.
The DOJ is expected to submit its final proposed remedies to the court imminently. Initial proposals, filed in October, hinted at the possibility of breaking up Google’s business to prevent it from leveraging Chrome, Android, and its Play Store to favor its search engine and related products.
Google has repeatedly denied accusations of monopolistic practices. In October, the company argued that splitting off parts of its business, such as Chrome or Android, would disrupt their functionality, raise costs for consumers, and weaken competition with Apple’s ecosystem.
Google also claimed that separating Chrome from its operations would compromise its ability to maintain browser security. The company’s quarterly results, released recently, revealed a 10% rise in revenues from search and advertising, reaching $65.9 billion. CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted the growing adoption of Google’s AI-powered search tools, accessed by millions of users.
| Key Google Market Metrics | Market Share |
|---|---|
| Chrome Browser (Global Market) | 64.61% |
| Google Search (Global Market) | ~90% |
| Potential DOJ Remedies | Google’s Position |
|---|---|
| Forcing sale of Chrome or Android | Would harm consumers, raise costs, and disrupt competition |
| Preventing Google from leveraging its platforms | Would undermine the integrated business model and security, Google claims |